Anendocrine disruptor or hormonal disruptoris a chemical that can interfere with animal and human endocrine (or hormone) system causing several adverse effects on exposed individuals and/or their offspring. Adverse affects include cancer, behaviour alterations or reproductive disorders among others.

The effects depend of the affected hormonal system (oestrogenic, thyroidal, etc.) and the moment of exposure (fetal development, childhood, puberty, etc.). Effects vary also depending on gender. Effects on children of exposed individuals have particular significance.

The effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors are observed at very low doses, generally below exposure limits set by legislation.

Given the serious effects of exposure to these agents they are considered as chemicals of high concern and risks from exposure must be avoided. Their elimination or substitution are priority actions and only in those cases where these actions are not technically feasible, workers’ exposure must be reduced through other measures (individual and collective protection) following the principles of preventive action according to Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work.

In view of the possibility of exposure of pregnant or breastfeeding women employers must:

Implement the necessary measures to avoid exposure by adapting the work places of affected workers.

Transfer the affected workers to work stations compatible with their condition whenever modification of workplaces is not possible.

Suspend the affected workers’ from their jobs during pregnancy or breastfeeding periods whenever transfer to other work stations is not possible. This option includes subsidizing affected workers (subsidized job suspension).

evidence of endocrine disrupting activity in at least one species using intact animals

Category 2

at least some in vitro evidence of biological activity related to endocrine disruptionT

Category 3

no evidence of endocrine disrupting activity or no data available. (In this priority-setting exercise Commission Scientific Committees and Stakeholders were consulted and considered that a differentiation between both categories should be done).

Application of the Community Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters. A range of substances suspected of interfering with the hormone systems of humans and wildlife. Commission to the Council and the European Parliament COM (1999) 706. COM (2001) 262 final.

Application of the Community Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters. A range of substances suspected of interfering with the hormone systems of humans and wildlife. Commission to the Council and the European Parliament COM (1999) 706. SEC (2004) 1372.

Application of the Community Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters. A range of substances suspected of interfering with the hormone systems of humans and wildlife. Commission to the Council and the European Parliament COM (1999) 706. SEC (2007) 1635.

White Paper on the Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy COM(2001)88.